A Nelson man has been sentenced to 26 months imprisonment for possessing child exploitation and bestiality material.
Dale William Cramond, 32, was charged after investigators found images and videos of child sex abuse and bestiality stored on his phone and online accounts operated by him.
He pleaded guilty to seven charges in relation to the possession of objectionable material in Nelson District Court on Wednesday.
Crammond will be registered as a child sex offender and required to forfeit devices.
The investigation was part of Operation H led by Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) digital child exploitation team which has identified over 90,000 online accounts accessing and sharing some of the "most horrific and devastating" child sexual abuse material online.
So far Operation H has resulted in 46 arrests in New Zealand, with over 836 cases being investigated and the safeguarding of 146 children globally.
"If you are viewing and sharing these images, you are complicit in the sexual abuse of children and the lifelong damage it causes," manager of the DIA digital child exploitation team Tim Houston said.
"DIA, NZ Police and the NZ Customs Service work tirelessly together to ensure children are not re-victimised by those seeking to derive sickening gratification from their suffering."
If you are concerned that something you have seen may be objectionable or want to report a crime, you can report it to the digital child exploitation team at DIA.
If you are the victim of a child abuse or sexual abuse crime, contact:
Child Abuse: Directory for information and support
Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334 Text 4334
If you are concerned about your own activity online or someone else's sexual behaviour, you should contact:
Safe to Talk: 0800 044 334 Text 4334
Or local treatment providers, or specialist therapists.
